W hich statement is true?
A) is a reimagining of the original game that came out in 2002.
B) It s a title based on the upcoming movie coming to theaters April 29.
C) It s the first Ratchet and Clank title on the PlayStation 4.
D) All of the above.

If you answered D, then you understand that the franchise is coming full circle. The revamp is a game based on a movie that was based on a game. It s an unusual take on a title that has a movie tie-in. Usually, projects based on moving pictures are made during or after the film has wrapped up and it s done on a short turnaround. That often leads to poor titles that are seen as cheap merchandising rather than excellent games.Players will visit some familiar haunts in Ratchet & Clank.

Ratchet & Clank is different because the game and movie reimagining the original title were both made at the same time. For the past two years, Insomniac Games worked in conjunction with Rainmaker and Blockade production teams to create an interactive experience that has the same visual fidelity as the film.

From what I played at the PlayStation Experience last weekend, the teams come close to making this happen. There are moments where it s hard to tell what was the film and what was done using the in-game engine. It s impressive how all parties involved create a Pixar-like quality of work.

It s great eye candy but all those visual fireworks mean nothing if the gameplay isn t great, and Ratchet & Clank seems to be on solid footing there. The game is tied to the movie in that it s a reinterpretation of what happens in the film. The game is telling the same story as the flick but it s from another character s perspective.

The Groovitron makes it return and it works as well as ever.

That means players will encounter the same creatures and scenes as the upcoming film, but players will have the agency to explore these places such as the Hall of Heroes. In terms of level design and gameplay, Ratchet & Clank will have stages that resemble what players experienced in the 2002 original but everything has been revamped to reflect 2015 game mechanics.

For one, the weapons have been updated. It includes the best guns and ordnance from past titles including the Groovitron. That s the fantastical weapon that makes enemies dance to a discoball. Ratchet also has melee weapons and platforming help courtesy of Clank.

For those who got into the series because of the excellent PlayStation 3 titles, Ratchet & Clank is a great way to see how the franchise started. For longtime fans, it ll be a treat to walk down memory lane with their favorite characters. Both audiences can appreciate duo s first adventure when it s released on the PlayStation 4 on April 12.

Images courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment America

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